Journal of pain and symptom management
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2022
ReviewInterventions to Improve Prognostic Understanding in Advanced Stages of Life-Limiting Illness: A Systematic Review.
Among patients with advanced life-limiting illness, an inaccurate understanding of prognosis is common and associated with negative outcomes. Recent years have seen an emergence of new interventions tested for their potential to improve prognostic understanding. However, this literature has yet to be synthesized. ⋯ Prognostic understanding interventions hold the potential to improve patient understanding and thus informed decision making, but limitations exist. Future research should examine why many patients receiving intervention may continue to maintain inaccurate perceptions, and identify which intervention components can best enhance informed, value-consistent decision making.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2022
Advance Care Planning Documentation and Intensity of Care at the End of Life for Adults with Congestive Heart Failure, Chronic Kidney Disease, and Both Illnesses.
Heart failure (HF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are associated with high morbidity and mortality, especially in combination, yet little is known about the impact of these conditions together on end-of-life care. ⋯ Decedents with both HF and CKD had more ACP documentation and received more intensive end-of-life care than those with only 1 condition. These findings suggest that patients with co-existing HF and CKD may benefit from interventions to ensure care received aligns with their goals.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2022
Review Meta AnalysisEffect of Light Therapy on Cancer-related Fatigue: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Light therapy is a non-pharmacological therapy that is currently being studied in cancer-related symptoms and is certificated as a low-risk intervention by FDA. Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is the most common symptom reported by cancer patients. ⋯ Light therapy could be a feasible and effective option for improving CRF in cancer patients. Larger sample, rigor trials design and a standard protocol of intervention are needed to draw more conclusive conclusions.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Feb 2022
Observational StudyIdentification of Palliative Care needs in cancer patients in a Surgical Emergency Centre.
Advanced cancer is associated with a significant symptom burden, and timely identification of palliative care (PC) needs, and provision of appropriate PC can improve treatment outcomes, reduce healthcare cost, and enhance patient and family satisfaction with care. Several tools have been used to identify PC needs in different clinical settings and patient groups. ⋯ Patients with PC needs comprise a significant proportion of SEC cancer admissions. This study shows the clear need for investment in staff and infrastructure to provide integrated palliative and end-of-life care as part of surgical services. The SPICTTM and SQ were shown to predict for early death in this cohort. Further validation of PC needs assessment tools is needed to guide the cost-effective implementation of PC services in low resource settings.